|| Hari Om ||
In one of the Thursday discourses, Bapu had praised the ‘Kalniyantri Shrimahakali’ (Shrimahakali who governs and controls Kaal or Time) saying – The Mahakali is darker than darkness. She always rules over the ‘adynata’ (the unknown). She has complete control over the past, the present and future. She protects us from calamities or danger that is unknown to us or is beyond our capacities of comprehension.
On hearing this, I had thought to myself, ‘How would this Mahakali be? Will I ever be able to experience her grace in this lifetime?’ Little did I know that the moment was not far away.
It was June 24, 2011. I was travelling like I do every day, to my college (Mahatma Gandhi Medical College) in Navi Mumbai. It was around 12.15 pm. Like every day, I decided to first chant the ‘Shubhankara Stavanam’and then start studying. As per Parampujya Suchitdada's instruction, I chant it five times in the day.
I was about to open my books, when a truck rammed into our car from the rear. The truck driver could not brake in time on the speed breaker and lost control. The car was completely smashed from the rear. The glass had broken down. The impact of the collision was such that our car was pushed to the right and dashed against the divider and the right tyre burst.
The truck driver quickly steered to the left and sped away. My driver and I were in a state of shock. I could not comprehend what had just struck us. I started screaming – Aniruddha, Aniruddha...
My driver tried to calm me and asked me not to cry. He said that he would check what had happened. I quickly called up my mother and told her about the accident that we had met with. I assured her that we were both safe. My mother asked me to wait where I was and left home immediately in the other car.
Inspite of meeting with such a horrific accident, the bystanders were surprised to see me come out of the car hale and hearty. One of them exclaimed, “How come you are not hurt? You don’t even have a scratch on your body. You are indeed blessed!”
I realized the intensity of the accident on seeing the crushed rear of the car. The shattered glass lay on the floor but only a few small pieces were inside. Had the glass pieces fallen inside, I would have been seriously wounded. But my Bapu and Mothi Aai (Chandikamata) had taken care. They would not allow it, would they?
My mother soon reached there. The car, driver and police headed to Rabale Police Station for a the required formalities. I headed home with my mother.
Had I not chanted Shubhankara Stavanam that day would I have even been alive to write this experience today? It is indeed true that the Adimata moves at the speed of lightening to save her children from calamity.
Considering the intensity of the accident, I was destined to either meet with death or become handicapped for life. But nothing like that happened. The Mahakali stood in my future and kept away the ‘adnyat’ that was befalling me in the form of an accident.
I pray to all shraddhavan to always surrender at the feet of the Adimata.
|| Hari Om ||